God Does Not Deny A Remorseful Person

 

God is truly forgiving.

Reflection on Today’s Reading, Tuesday of 11th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, June 18th, 2024
Texts: 1 Kings 21:17-29; Psalm 51; Matthew 5:43-48 

Reflecting on today’s first reading makes one wonder if there is Biblical record of a remorseful person whom God denied forgiveness. Story of King Ahab, today, teaches us that God does not deny a remorseful person forgiveness.  

We read, “And when Ahab heard those words, he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about dejectedly. And the word of the  Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the evil upon his house.’" God is truly forgiving. 

God is truly forgiving

God does not care whether we will change later but for the moment we are remorseful, He forgives us. King David was certain that God did deny a remorseful person forgiveness. He says, 17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Ps. 51:17).  

St. John also testifies that God does not deny a remorseful person forgiveness. He says, “But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing” (1John 1:9). We are only denied forgiveness when we are shifting blame or providing excuses for our sins. Example of this is our first parents (Gen. 3:12-13). 

Prayer 

O God, strength of those who hope in you, graciously hear our pleas, and, since without you mortal frailty can do nothing, grant us always the help of your grace, that in following your commands we may please you by our resolve and our deeds. Amen 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke